A Bumpy Road to Power

Chapter 492 - 492

Everything was progressing smoothly.

By noon the next day.

Cornell Morgan received a call from Carly Lambert.

In the call, Carly Lambert gave him an address.

Cornell Morgan immediately wrote it down and handed it to his secretary, Julian Perry, instructing, "Find two of our guys, first check out the surroundings, after confirming it's Sydney Tanner, bring her to me immediately, understand?"

Julian Perry asked, "Boss, should we inform The Leopard Cat about this?"

Cornell Morgan's face darkened.

He angrily replied, "Inform her of what? Just do what I told you, and let her know once the job is done, won't we gain more? Fool!"

"Yes, yes, I'll handle it right now."

Julian Perry nodded and left.

Thinking he was in control, Cornell Morgan was obliviously sounding his own death knell.

Around eleven that night, a group of people drove to a courtyard in the old district of Koryn City.

This group forcefully burst into the courtyard and abducted the woman living inside, quickly stuffing her into the car and disappearing into the night.

But little did they know, a motorcycle was following at a distance, driven by The Leopard Cat.

Half an hour later.

Robert Shepherd, sleeping at home, was awakened by an unexpected call.

No idea what was said over the phone.

Robert's sleepy eyes suddenly opened wide.

He quickly got up, saying, "Wait for me, I'll be there right away."

Twenty minutes later.

Robert arrived at a small snack shop not far from his house.

By then, Arlo Yarbrough was already waiting at the entrance and said upon seeing Robert, "Mayor Shepherd, please come with me."

Led by Arlo Yarbrough, Robert entered a private room, seeing Dirk Carter still eating, and angrily said, "Do you really have the mood to eat at a time like this?"

Dirk Carter turned to him, asking, "Mayor Shepherd, what do you mean? Why wouldn't I eat? Sydney Tanner was taken, it's no loss to me. Just telling you is already going above and beyond."

"Dirk Carter! We are in a partnership! You need to remember that!"

Robert shouted.

Dirk Carter sneered.

He said, "Mayor Shepherd, you should clearly know how our partnership was formed. It's because Sydney Tanner is with me that you were willing to cooperate. Without her, would you and your backers stoop to work with me?"

"I helped you with the Cranhilla Village issue, don't forget that."

Robert said.

Dirk Carter sneered again.

He said, "It wasn't you helping me, but me helping you. I dragged Cornell Morgan down and hit him; you should be thanking me instead of shouting at me."

"You..."

Robert was momentarily at a loss for words.

Dirk Carter slowly stood up.

He said, "Mayor Shepherd, you must realize, our partnership is unequal. Also, in your eyes, I, Dirk Carter, am a threat. Once Cornell Morgan is out of your way, you'll be the first to crush me. Am I right?"

These words left Robert speechless once again.

Seeing Robert subdued.

Dirk Carter said, "It's true that Cornell Morgan took her, but there are still ways. My people are on their trail, and I've just learned they're hiding at 128 Springwell Road. You decide what to do, I won't get involved."

After speaking.

He sat back down.

Picked up his chopsticks and continued eating leisurely.

Robert stared at Dirk Carter.

Stomping his foot, he said, "Fine, we'll settle our accounts one step at a time."

Leaving these words behind.

Robert angrily turned and left.

As soon as he was gone.

Arlo Yarbrough came in.

Asked, "Aren't we going to follow them? What if things get out of control?"

Dirk Carter poured himself a beer and downed it.

Said, "Don't you understand the saying, 'when the snipe and the clam grapple, the fisherman catches them both?'"

"I understand, but how can you be sure Robert will definitely beat Cornell Morgan?"

Arlo Yarbrough asked.

Dirk Carter smiled slightly, saying, "Cornell Morgan acts recklessly, believing he's backed by powerful leaders, with no regard for anyone else. Robert surely has dirt on him. The hesitation to act before was due to the worry over Duncan Linden. But today is different; with Sydney Tanner in Cornell Morgan's hands, it's a life-and-death situation. To save his own skin, Robert will put everything on the line. If we were to get involved, we wouldn't be able to withstand Duncan Linden's wrath."

"You planned this whole play from the start, didn't you?"

Arlo Yarbrough asked.

Dirk Carter did not deny it.

Nodded, saying, "From the moment Sydney Tanner was brought in, the stage was set."

Arlo Yarbrough smacked his lips, saying, "Since you came to Janton State, you've become someone completely different."

"How different?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Arlo Yarbrough thought for a moment, replying, "Before, you did everything yourself, leading the charge, but now you've learned to strategize from behind the scenes. You've managed to play with both major forces, spinning everyone around."

Dirk Carter wasn't sure if it was a compliment or a taunt.

He sighed deeply.

Saying, "I had to adapt. Old Qin was right, the political landscape in Riverton State is more complex; it's kill or be killed. If I do nothing, I'm just asking to get beat...."

Feeling nostalgic, he continued.

"Come, let's finish this drink and go to sleep. By the time we wake up, Koryn City's entire political structure might have completely transformed."

Dirk Carter's prediction was spot on.

He just hadn't anticipated the result being even more brutal than imagined.

Before the workday began.

Just after six in the morning, Dirk Carter's phone rang.

It startled him awake as well.

Seeing the number, it was a call from Carly Lambert.

Dirk Carter knew Robert and Cornell Morgan's night-long "battle" must have reached a conclusion.

Placing the phone to his ear, he asked before Carly said anything, "Is there a result?"

Carly Lambert was silent for a moment and then said, "Cornell Morgan is dead."

Those five words were like a bomb that sent shivers through Dirk Carter.

He suddenly jumped out of bed, asking, "What did you say? Say it again!"

"Cornell Morgan is dead; hurry to the office, we'll discuss it in person."

The call was quickly disconnected.

Dirk Carter sat there on the bed, dumbfounded, for a full five minutes before coming to his senses.

Cornell Morgan actually died?

Was Robert really this ruthless?

Not bothering to think more, he quickly dressed and rushed downstairs, realizing then Arlo Yarbrough had already arrived in a car.

As soon as Dirk Carter got into the car, Arlo Yarbrough gravely said, "The city is in chaos, Cornell Morgan is dead..."